Catering for Special Diets at the AIS Dining Hall Fact Sheet
The AIS Dining Hall provides high performance athletes with appealing food and an enjoyable
meal environment that fully supports the dietary guidelines for optimal sports performance,
and allows each athlete to meet their specific nutritional goals for training and competition
within their unique lifestyle. This dining experience is also shared with other groups visiting
and staying at the AIS.
We are passionate about food and nutrition, we use high quality ingredients and do our best
to cater for people with food allergies and intolerances. However, we cannot guarantee an
environment completely free from allergens so traces of some ingredients may be present in
our meals.
Food Allergy: Food Allergy is a harmful immune system response to a food protein. The
allergy occurs due to the body mistakenly identifying the food protein to be harmful.
A food allergy is distinct from food intolerance. Intolerance is the inability to properly digest
certain foods.
Anaphylaxis: Anaphylaxis is the most severe allergic response, which can potentially be life
threatening.
It is a requirement that anyone with a known food anaphylaxis carry an Epipen with them at
all times whilst in the AIS Dining Hall. The manager of the visiting group is responsible for
ensuring that a person trained in issuing Epipen or other auto injector of adrenaline is in
attendance with the visitor with food allergies to administer the medication as required.
How the AIS Dining Hall Addresses Specific Food Allergies: All catering staff at the AIS
Dining Hall are required to undertake and maintain training with regards to “Allergen Control
Policy” and “Allergen Awareness” in the kitchen and meal preparation. All catering staff are
trained with regards to the importance of allergies and the subsequent need to follow recipes
closely and avoid cross contamination. This training is undertaken in collaboration with the
AIS Foodservice Dietitian.
All meals/ prepared dishes have accompanying nutrition cards which will specify nutritional
information, along with listing any allergens added in the dish (i.e. contains eggs, fish or
shellfish, gluten, soy, milk, wheat etc.).
The AIS Dining Hall buffet contains fresh vegetables and a significant salad bar which
contains a wide variety of salad ingredients individually presented, and a salad/s dish
prepared fresh daily.
Due to the extensive variety of food provided in the daily menu, the majority food allergies can
generally be catered for. The following extra measures can also be taken to accommodate
dietary requirements.
Allergy
Peanut
AIS Dining Hall & Packed Lunches - action
The dining hall is a peanut free zone. They are not used at all
within the AIS Dining Hall.
Tree Nuts (walnuts,
The breakfast cereals contain no nuts in the ingredients, however
almonds, cashews,
pistachios, pecans)
these cereals are produced on equipment that also produces
cereals that contain milk, soy and tree nuts.
Sesame
The AIS Dining Hall also receives some bread that contains
sesame seeds on the outside of the bread.
Egg
Milk, dairy
Fish
Crustacean/Shellfish
Soy
Gluten
For packed lunches, no breads containing sesame seeds will be
used, nor muesli bars packed for those groups with identified nut
or seed allergies. Tubs of fruit would be used for a snack food.
In packed lunches, egg free snack products will be used (E.g.
muesli bar or fruit tub). There will be no egg in the sandwich for
groups with identified egg allergies.
Soy and Lactose Free Milk are regularly available items in the
dining hall.
Packed lunches – cheese, margarine and dairy related products
are omitted from the sandwiches for groups with identified dairy
allergies.
Generally, we offer at least one meal that does not include
seafood.
If soy is present in meals in the AIS Dining Hall, it will be listed on
the accompanying nutritional card.
Gluten free breakfast cereal, wraps, breads, are readily available in
the AIS Dining Hall.
Packed lunches – Gluten free bread or wraps will be used in
sandwiches. Tubs or fruit and friands (almond meal) may be used
to replace the standard muesli bar snacks for those requiring a
gluten free diet.
Other Dietary Requirements:
Diet
Halal
Kosher
AIS Dining Hall action
All meats used within the AIS Dining Hall are halal approved / certified.
The only means we have of catering to a Kosher diet is to order the required
ingredients on an as needs basis. As there is a substantial cost for this request, the
cost will be passed on to the consumer.
Please note that personal dietary preferences of likes or dislikes of food will not be catered
for.
Bringing Your Own Food: If our current menu cannot accommodate your special dietary
requirements, with prior arrangement, the AIS Dining Hall can accept guests individual
‘special’ foodstuff (pre-packaged meals, snacks) brought from home. Our chefs will accept /
receipt the goods and store them appropriately in line with food safety standards and
requirement. These will then be available as required by letting the Dining Hall staff know.
This will purely be a reheating process, no cooking / meal preparation included.
Notification: It is a requirement of those organising or managing a visiting group to notify the
AIS of any special dietary requirements of members of the group. A Dietary Needs Form (see
Page 3) will need to be completed and signed by each person who has special dietary needs.
Notification of Special Diets is required no later than two (2) weeks prior to your AIS visit.
Please send all completed dietary forms for your group to your ESC coordinator,
bookings@ausport.gov.au or fax to (02) 6214 1857.
Further Information: For further information or clarification please contact:
AIS Foodservice Dietitian- Joanne Mirtschin
Phone (02) 6214 1950 or Joanne.Mirtschin@ausport.gov.au
Executive Chef- Mark Fitzsimmons
Phone (02) 6214 1875 or ASC.chef@trippaswhitegroup.com.au
Page 2 of 3
Catering for Special Diets at the AIS Dining Hall Form
This form is to be completed and signed only by the person (or their parent/guardian) attending the AIS,
who has special dietary needs. Personal dietary preferences of likes or dislikes of food will not be
catered for.
The completed form must be received by Events and Sports Camps staff by fax or email (see details
below) at least 14 days before your group’s arrival. You will be required to bring your own food if this
form is not filled out or lodged by this deadline. We will acknowledge receipt of this form via email.
On arrival you must introduce yourself to the catering staff so we can put a face to the following dietary
information.
1. Group Name………………………………………………………
Date of arrival…………………………. Date of departure……………………………….
Name……………………………………….. Age if under 18………………………..
Home Phone number……………………………. other contact number………………..………..…
Email……………………………………………………..……….
2. Please tick the box that applies to you.
☐No Peanut
☐No Tree Nut
☐No Eggs
☐No Dairy
☐No Seafood
☐No Sesame
☐No Wheat
☐No Soy
☐No Gluten
3. Are you able to have small amounts of the allergens you have listed above ?
☐YES ☐NO
4. Are you able to have foods which carry the warning “may contain traces of...” ? ☐YES ☐NO
5. Will you be providing your own food ? ☐YES ☐NO
Please specify
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….
6. Please provide any other information in relation to your food allergy.
.............................................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................................
I have read and understood the ‘Fact Sheet - Catering for Special Diets at the AIS Dining Hall’.
I understand that the AIS makes every attempt to identify ingredients that may cause allergic reactions
for those with food allergies. I understand that while the AIS is able to take every reasonable effort to
avoid the allergens listed, when they have been disclosed, in prepared food, it is impossible for the AIS
to provide any guarantee that I will not come into contact with the listed allergen or residues during my
stay.
I understand that it is a requirement that anyone with a known food anaphylaxis carry an Epipen with
them at all times whilst in the AIS Dining Hall. I understand that the manager of the visiting group is
responsible for ensuring that a person trained in issuing Epipen or other auto injector of adrenaline is in
attendance with the visitor with food allergies to administer the medication as required.
Guest/Parent/Guardian Signed……………………………….....
Print Name……………….………………….……..
Date……………....
Page 3 of 3